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[ EDITORIAL ]

Lakeland Police Scandals: Lisa Womack's Resignation

Published: Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 12:24 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 26, 2014 at 12:24 a.m.

When Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack delivered her resignation to City Manager Doug Thomas on Friday, the letter said, "I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of me and my family for me to transition out of my position of chief."

By resigning, Womack also acted in the best interest of the Lakeland — in the sense that its residents, Police Department and municipal government now can make a clean break from 2013, the worst year since the city's establishment in 1885.

Lakeland's horrible year of 2013 started with the Police Department repeatedly breaking Florida's Public Records Law by withholding public records. In the first week of the year, Womack told Ledger reporter Jeremy Maready that the department played a "cat-and-mouse" game with news organizations when it did not want to release public records it considered sensitive, which he reported in an article Jan. 6, 2013.

Following publication of the article, State Attorney Jerry Hill convened a grand jury to investigate the Police Department's handling of public records. As part of the process, the State Attorney's Office sent three undercover investigators to the department. They requested records, but what they received was incomplete. As the grand jury's presentment said, "There is no reason to believe that any other citizen walking into LPD to request records would have a different experience." The investigative report remained sealed until opened Dec. 13 by order of the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Finally, the public learned how deeply the 18-member grand jury had criticized the Police Department and Womack.

Public records were only the start. Over the year, residents of Lakeland learned that important criminal investigations were incompetent; officers falsified court documents; female drivers in traffic stops were ordered to lift their upper clothing, pull their bras away from their breasts and shake, and in one videotaped instance shake a second time when the officer was dissatisfied; an officer was arrested on two charges of armed sexual battery by a law-enforcement officer and one charge of aggravated stalking while on a police call; and too much more.

Collectively, the year's police misdeeds made up the city's worst scandal.

However, the single worst scandal was the eight-year indulgence of sexual activity by 10 on-duty police officers and more than 20 officers altogether.

NO NEED TO WAIT UNTIL MAY

With Womack's resignation Friday offering separation from the many Lakeland Police wrongs, there was no need for Womack to specify in her letter that "My transition from my position as chief of police will be effective May 1." Nor was there reason for Thomas to accept that provision by expressing continued "confidence" in Womack during a press conference Friday afternoon and saying that his confidence is "evident in her continuing role serving as chief over the next three months."

Thomas should move directly to his plan of placing one of the department's two assistant chiefs — Larry Giddens or Mike Link — in charge. He should do so immediately, not as a slight to Womack, but to move quickly and decisively into a new future for the department, one in which it puts scandal as far in the distance as possible.

COMMISSION ACTION NEEDED

Even after the Police Department's miserable 2013, the City Commission did not have the stomach to press for action against Womack. Just Mayor Howard Wiggs and Commissioner Don Selvage opposed her continuance.

Wednesday, when the department's union tied 80-80 in a confidence vote on Womack, and a separate nonunion vote among civilian employees and nonunion officers went against Womack 152-123, Commissioner Keith Merritt called for the chief to resign.

Nonetheless, Thomas did not seek Womack's resignation. Indeed, he said Friday, "I've worked very closely with Chief Womack during her three-year tenure and have consistently supported her leadership of the Lakeland Police Department, even during what has arguably been its most challenging chapter."

With Thomas' ongoing support for Womack's actions and policies, and consistent agreement with her decisions, he is not the best person to choose a new police chief — or to serve as city manager.

<p>When Lakeland Police Chief Lisa Womack delivered her resignation to City Manager Doug Thomas on Friday, the letter said, "I have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interest of me and my family for me to transition out of my position of chief."</p><p>By resigning, Womack also acted in the best interest of the Lakeland — in the sense that its residents, Police Department and municipal government now can make a clean break from 2013, the worst year since the city's establishment in 1885.</p><p>Lakeland's horrible year of 2013 started with the Police Department repeatedly breaking Florida's Public Records Law by withholding public records. In the first week of the year, Womack told Ledger reporter Jeremy Maready that the department played a "cat-and-mouse" game with news organizations when it did not want to release public records it considered sensitive, which he reported in an article Jan. 6, 2013.</p><p>Following publication of the article, State Attorney Jerry Hill convened a grand jury to investigate the Police Department's handling of public records. As part of the process, the State Attorney's Office sent three undercover investigators to the department. They requested records, but what they received was incomplete. As the grand jury's presentment said, "There is no reason to believe that any other citizen walking into LPD to request records would have a different experience." The investigative report remained sealed until opened Dec. 13 by order of the 2nd District Court of Appeal. Finally, the public learned how deeply the 18-member grand jury had criticized the Police Department and Womack.</p><p>Public records were only the start. Over the year, residents of Lakeland learned that important criminal investigations were incompetent; officers falsified court documents; female drivers in traffic stops were ordered to lift their upper clothing, pull their bras away from their breasts and shake, and in one videotaped instance shake a second time when the officer was dissatisfied; an officer was arrested on two charges of armed sexual battery by a law-enforcement officer and one charge of aggravated stalking while on a police call; and too much more.</p><p>Collectively, the year's police misdeeds made up the city's worst scandal.</p><p>However, the single worst scandal was the eight-year indulgence of sexual activity by 10 on-duty police officers and more than 20 officers altogether.</p><p><b>NO NEED TO WAIT UNTIL MAY</b></p><p>With Womack's resignation Friday offering separation from the many Lakeland Police wrongs, there was no need for Womack to specify in her letter that "My transition from my position as chief of police will be effective May 1." Nor was there reason for Thomas to accept that provision by expressing continued "confidence" in Womack during a press conference Friday afternoon and saying that his confidence is "evident in her continuing role serving as chief over the next three months."</p><p>Thomas should move directly to his plan of placing one of the department's two assistant chiefs — Larry Giddens or Mike Link — in charge. He should do so immediately, not as a slight to Womack, but to move quickly and decisively into a new future for the department, one in which it puts scandal as far in the distance as possible.</p><p><b>COMMISSION ACTION NEEDED</b></p><p>Even after the Police Department's miserable 2013, the City Commission did not have the stomach to press for action against Womack. Just Mayor Howard Wiggs and Commissioner Don Selvage opposed her continuance.</p><p>Wednesday, when the department's union tied 80-80 in a confidence vote on Womack, and a separate nonunion vote among civilian employees and nonunion officers went against Womack 152-123, Commissioner Keith Merritt called for the chief to resign.</p><p>Nonetheless, Thomas did not seek Womack's resignation. Indeed, he said Friday, "I've worked very closely with Chief Womack during her three-year tenure and have consistently supported her leadership of the Lakeland Police Department, even during what has arguably been its most challenging chapter."</p><p>With Thomas' ongoing support for Womack's actions and policies, and consistent agreement with her decisions, he is not the best person to choose a new police chief — or to serve as city manager.</p>